Thursday, 2 May 2013

The Vatican

Recently we
witnessed the election of a new pope. Since his election, I was surprised that,
contrary to many of his predecessors, he rejected the opulence of his office,
and tried to inspire by example. In the Vatican dripping with gold and
priceless works of art, that is a rare trait indeed.

I want my readers to know that my
comments about the Church are limited only to the Church’s claim to expertise in matters pertaining to the
teaching of Christ.

The last 2000 years made it abundantly clear that the Church has
absolutely no interest in any treasures stored in heaven. On the other hand,
the brazen agglomeration of priceless wealth which I suspect exceeds even that
of the British Empire which R. Buckminster Fuller once called: “...history’s
most successful world-outlaw organization...” is obvious.

On the other hand, I have nothing but admiration and undying gratitude
to the Church, present and past, in many other areas that are also dear to me. The
Church is responsible for my countless moments of joy, of visual, aural and
tactile pleasure that contribute greatly to the fabric of my daily life.

I held my breath
as I entered the Basilica of Saint Peter. What magnificent space, what
resplendent vistas! I dare anyone, of any faith or religion, not to derive
pleasure, not to admire the euphoric splendor (spiritual decadence only if you
are a spoilsport) of the central building of the Church. The sensuously
polished marbles, the forests of columns—forthright and upright, soaring
towards heavenly domes. Or from the armies of sculptured saints, the galleries
of paintings of more saintly figures, all immortalized right here, on earth,
for posterity. The greatest names of the 16th century, Bramante, Michelangelo
and Raphael have been mustered to contribute their genius to this monument of
human endeavor. And all this thanks to but one man, Pope Julius II. Admittedly
there are those who call his reign “the decadence of papacy,” but there is
another way of looking at this period. Without Julius, St. Peter’s would never
have happened.

And then there is
the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the papal apartments, the papal portrait galleries,
the inexhaustible works of art in the Vatican Museum, the consummate splendor
of other Vatican buildings, the gardens... and, last but not least, the superb
archives of the Vatican library...

Who else could
provide us with such unprecedented riches?

And this is just
the headquarters.

And then there is
music.

I defy anyone to
point to any other source as abundant as the Church in commanding composers to
produce their best for the good of all. From the aria antiqua, through
the doleful canticles to the Ambrosian and Gregorian chants echoing among the
stone walls of ancient monasteries, to Handel’s Messiah and other Oratorios.
And who could claim that Bach wasn’t first and foremost a church’s composer?

About Me

An architect, sculptor, and prolific writer was educated in Poland and England. Since 1965 he has resided in Canada. His special interests cover a broad spectrum of arts, sciences, and philosophy. His fiction and non-fiction attest to his particular passion for the scope and the development of Human Potential. Under his real name, he published seven non-fiction books sharing his vision of reality. He also composed two collections of poems in his original native tongue in which he satirizes his view of the world while paying homage to Bozena Happach's sculptures. As an architect [RIBA, MRAIC, OAQ ret.] he designed a number high rise buildings in Montreal, including Regency Hyatt Hotel (now Delta), Place Mercantile, Headquarters for the Mutual Alliance, as well as a number of low and middle rise structures for private clients. In the National Capital he was the associate in charge of design of Royal Bank Headquarters on Sparks Street.